October

Lettuce leaf basil is a popular old Italian variety, a large leafed variety of Sweet Basil and one of the most productive of all basils. With very large, crinkled and highly aromatic leaves, it adds the texture of leaf lettuce while packing a tasty basil flavour to brighten up your summer sandwiches.

Basil ‘Red Rubin’ is a purple version of Italian large leaf basil, a multi-purpose variety that is one of the mainstays of many herb gardens. Distinguished from other purple basils by its sweeter aroma and flavour, the rich, dark purple leaves are more consistent in colour than some of the other purple basils.

Basil Bush is a dwarf, compact variety, approximately half the size of sweet basil, it is ideal for planting in pots and probably the easiest basil to grow, it is perfect for the kitchen window sill and for container gardening.The leaves are smaller than sweet basil, with a slightly milder flavour. Tiny white flowers will appear in the summer.

Cinnamon basil has attractive purple growing tips and pink flowers in summer. This variety is true to its name with a cooler flavour and distinct cinnamon aftertaste. Use this herb just as you would use sweet basil. Organic seed.

Greek Basil is an improved variety of 'Bush'. It has a tight compact growing habit and forms a perfectly spherical bush appearing as though having been pruned. The size and scent make it suitable for growing in virtually any horticultural department:- beds, borders, path edging or even window boxes.

With handsome heavily ruffled and fringed leaves, Basil 'Green Ruffles' deserves a place in your kitchen garden and makes an excellent contrast plant in the border. The leaves are full of flavour, aromatic when crushed and are especially fine for herb vinegars and for garnishing.

One sniff and one would swear one was in a lemon orchard. Mildly flavoured, it initially tastes almost the same as most basils, but with a lovely clean aftertaste resembling that of lemon balm. Organic Seed.

Mrs Burns' Lemon Basil is a legendary heirloom, nothing short of an idol among fine chefs and gardeners alike. With the strongest aroma and flavour of all the lemon basils, the scent is powerful, resinous, and oily, followed by spicy cinnamon, with a strong floral note. It has a concentrated lemon oil taste, with mild spice and mint.

Purple Ruffles is probably the prettiest of basils, if not of all herbs. While it deserves a place in your kitchen garden, it also makes an excellent contrasting plant in a border. Tempting though it is to admire your plant, one taste will have you tearing the leaves of by the armful.

Sweet Genovese is often associated with Italian cuisine. Basil is native to the region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This delicate herb has with an intense, spicy-sweet, aroma and a slight anise-like undertone. It is THE Basil for pesto and a wonderful companion plant.

Sweet Genovese is often associated with Italian cuisine. Basil is native to the region surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This delicate herb has with an intense, spicy-sweet, aroma and a slight anise-like undertone. Organic Seed.

Thai Basil 'Siam Queen' is a large leaf variety that has been cultivated to provide a distinctive set of traits preferred in Asian cuisine. It has an identifiable liquorice flavour not present in sweet basil, and its flavour is more stable under high or extended cooking temperatures than that of sweet basil.

Thai Basil is commonly used in the cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It has has a stronger taste and an identifiable liquorice flavour which is more stable under high or extended cooking temperatures than that of sweet basil. Organic Seed.

Holy basil, also called Tulsi or Sacred Basil is an ancient variety. It has highly aromatic, narrow oval leaves and pink flowers with a perfumed fragrance. This reddish-purple tinted plant exudes a delicious, sweet, clove-like aroma. The hotter the summer, the deeper the purple.

Aquadulce is highly prolific and easy to grow, and remains one of the most delicious in terms of flavour and texture. It can be sown anytime from autumn until spring and is universally recognised as being best hardy broad bean for an autumn sowing. RHS AGM

“Bunyards Exhibition” broad beans are a favorite of Chefs worldwide and the most popular old variety with home gardeners because of their beautiful colour and unique flavour. This reliable early English white longpod can be sown in autumn in mild areas and successionally sown throughout the spring.

Grano Violetto is a unique and colourful early maturing broad bean. This hardy variety is suitable for sowing from October. The plants grow to 90cm tall and are highly productive even at the lower parts of the plant. Harvested while still green, the purple coloration appears once the beans are dried.

'Super Aquadulce' is highly prolific and easy to grow, and one of the most delicious in terms of flavour and texture. It can be sown anytime from autumn until spring and is universally recognised as being best hardy broad bean for an autumn sowing. 90 days.

Growing to only 40cm tall, The Sutton produces a huge amount of tasty beans for such small plants, it is ideal for small gardens and with beautiful white flowers they would not look out of place if you grew them amongst flowers in a border. RHS AGM

Brussels Sprout Groninger is a second early variety noted for its great tasting sprouts. It produces medium sized green sprouts and gives a steady supply through the autumn and into the winter. Harvest October to December - perfect timing for that all important Christmas Dinner.

Fresh Brussels sprouts, properly cooked, are deliciously delicate in flavour. Bedford Darkmar 21 is an open pollinated, mid to late season variety, Darkmar gives heavy crops of medium sized, dark green sprouts with a fine flavour. Harvest from December so ideal for Christmas.

Brussel Sprouts 'Evesham Special' has become a real old favourite for its generous crops which are ready particularly early in the season. They will give harvests over a long period from September till Christmas. Growing to only 60cm in height, a good choice for exposed sites and smaller gardens.

F1 Trafalgar is a splendid, British bred mid season hybrid Brussels Sprout. A tall variety for the November, December and into January cropping period, it is one of the best tasting and sweetest varieties available and a good variety for Christmas sprouts.